Discover the best deals of the year and how to take advantage of them

Year of Savings

Year of Savings

Here’s some good news: The country’s economy is projected to improve (slowly, but surely) in the year ahead. Even though economic upswings tend to drive up prices, deals will be available in 2013—if you know where to look, says Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com. Here, a few categories where your dollars will go farthest.

1. Laptops, Flat-screen TVs and Digital Cameras

1. Laptops, Flat-screen TVs and Digital Cameras

The cost of commoditized technology (products made with basic, widespread knowledge of hardware components) will keep going down, says Brad Wilson, founder of the savings website BradsDeals and author of Do More, Spend Less: The New Secrets of Living the Good Life for Less. Because of technological improvements, electronics parts are becoming cheaper and easier to manufacture, tempting more companies to get in on the action. As suppliers compete for market share, prices for consumers fall—except on those beloved Apple products. There isn’t an oversupply since only one company makes them.